Is my daughter overweight for her age and height? - Children's Health Message Board

mother with a question · 06-10-2002, 12:37 PM

She is almost 14. She is about 5 foot 6 inches. And when she weighed herself she told me that she weighs about 177 pounds or 180 because we don't have a digital scale so it is rather hard to tell at times. Is this overweight for how tall she is and how old she is? She doesn't look like she is overweight but then she isn't very active at times. Most of the kids in her 7th grade class weigh about 110 or 120. But she's up there at 180. Is that too heavy? If it is should she lose weight or just keep it like that. I dont' thinks she will want to lose weight. It would be embarassing for her to be on a diet. She has a bit of a stomach. I think about a 40 inches if you measure all around the belly button area. Do you know if she is overweight or not? She eats ok. We tried weighing her after meals. In the morning it is 178. At night it is 184. I know it differs after meals. I just would like to know if she is overweight or not. thank you if anyone can answer my question.

Lindarella · 06-10-2002, 02:01 PM

Yes, she is overweight. If a child is above the 85th percentile of people their age they're considered overweight. She's between the 90th and 95th percentile, meaning that she weighs more than 90-95% of children her age and size.

It's best to teach good eating, excercise and food choice habits as young as you can so that they can be carried out for a lifetime.

wes20 · 06-10-2002, 02:17 PM

She is? She weighs more than 95% of kids her age? I didn't know this. What percentile should she be at? And how many pounds overweight is she? Is it by many pounds or just a few pounds?

Nicksmom · 06-10-2002, 02:29 PM

Being 5'6", she is overweight for weighing 177+ pounds. Diets don't work. Usually when someone diets, they loose weight, only to gain it back plus more. She needs a life style change. Don't let her drink sodas, only water and lots of it. Cut back on carbs and have her eat lots of fruits and veggies. Get rid of processed foods, and chips, etc. Make everything from scratch (no can foods, frozen, or fast foods)....and she will loose weight and be healthy. If she already eats healthy foods and not a whole lot, get her thyroid checked....it's a very common problem that interfears with your metalbolism. And don't feel she would be embarrassed if you but her on a diet...her self-esteam will be lowered if she contiues to grow larger and a child should not feel embarrassed at all if the parent tells them they need to loose weight. My mom put me on a diet when I was a teen because I got up to 120 (I'm 5'4" and small boned)..I didn't feel embarrassed at all. She didn't make a big deal about it...she just shopped for healthy snacks, and low cal. dinner foods and told me the we can all stand to loose 5 pounds....I didn't take offense at all.

mother with a question · 06-10-2002, 02:36 PM

I work a lot so she has a lot of frozen meals and fast food. She doesn't drink much soda. I'm not sure of how to go about this. How many pounds overweight is she though? I need an idea of that. i asked her and she doesn't think that she is overweight